No Items in your Bag

Fashion on The Ration Review

Posted on 13th April 2015

Fashion on The Ration is exactly the type of exhibition we need
to all go to and experience, for it obliquely raises some rather
interesting questions about our society whilst exploring with
extreme attention to detail how fashion survived and even thrived
during wartime.

But Don't You Worry, As There's Plenty Of Fun At Fashion On The
Ration!

Information heavy, this show won't disappoint, spanning from
anecdotal to historical with recordings of people who lived it all;
authentic army surplus uniforms and
utility clothes collections for both men's and women's wear; extracts
from what must have been, back then, the journals of young ladies,
complaining about restrictions and even sketching amusing
accidents, like, in one case, a misbehaved suspender. The extracts
from women's magazines of the time are also worth mentioning, for
they contributed to the glamorisation of war, and are a great
insight into the fashion restrictions millions of people had to
deal with.

In fact, we sincerely hope that the slogan 'Make Do and Mend'
will have a comeback - as it's an incredible inspiring contrast, if
we compare it to our modern day consumeristic society that
subconsciously makes us buy fast-made (and often badly made...ahem)
clothes that will only last us a few months before we throw them
away, or are unwearable because there's another schizophrenic trend
we must all abide by.

What did we learn from Fashion on a Ration? There is the
obvious starkness between now and then; in a time where you have to
reconstruct your everyday clothes out of necessity, to now where
people buy clothes from Primark with the intention that when they
faulter, they are replaceable.

We learnt about the ingenuity of people during WWII, about the
resourcefulness, creativity and optimism of the period.

Army Surplus Clothing From Rokit

Whether your heart is vintage and nostalgia ridden for army surplus
clothing, or it is indeed restless - uncertain of what trend should
be more you than another - you must go to Fashion on The Ration. We
promise you: you'll find more than just inspiration for your retro
style!